Safety device for moving-picture machines.



N. POWER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 14, 1913 1,1 19,451. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

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N. POWER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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E g attozuug was;

HZ ICHQLAS PQWER, E BBOQKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, T0 NICHOLAS POWEECOYMTEANY, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGRPORATTLON OF DELAW'ARE.

SAFETY DEVICE HGVIIt'G-PECTUILE Mum Application filed March 34, 19.1%.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, NIcHoLAs Powns, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New Yorln have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Safety Devices for iiloving-l icture Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices for movingpicture machines and has for object to provide a device which willabsolutely prevent all possibility offire reaching the film in themagazine in case the same should become ignited in its passage throughthe machine. One device for this purpose which has given quitesatisfactory results is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 959601 May 31,1910, and desig nated in the trade by the term magazine valve. Thismechanism comprises a chute through which the film enters the magazinewith guide rollers at the entrance of the chute one of which hasinclined slotted bearings so that the rollers lie closely against thefilm to wipe off the flame of the burning film when it reaches therollers. in practice this device has been modified to permit the machineto be more easily threaded by leaving a slot in the side of the chutesothat the film can he slipped edgewise into the device without unwindingthe same to obtain a free end. This slit sometimes permits enough air toget to the film for it to burn through the the fire has gotten goodheadway before it reaches the rollers. My present invention is shown asan addition to the device disclosed in this patent and is designed toabsolutely prevent passage of fire into the magacine, but at the sametime permits the film to be readily threaded in the machine. It isto beunderstood however that my present invention may be employedindependently of the magazine valve if desired and is quite effectivefor the purpose when so used. I have shown my improvements in theaccompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion-.,j of amoving picture machine equipped with my invention; Fig. 2 is an end viewof the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views onlines 33 and 4-% of Fig. 1. V

In the said drawings 1 represents the magazinev for'receiving the filmas it passes generally by the numeral 2.

valve particularly if.

it. this.

Serial 210. 752.5%

through the projecting apparatus i' 'idicated The ilin is fedfrom amagazine 3 supported above the pro ecting apparatus by a suitably drivencontinuously i'otatin sprocket which the film passes to theintermittently rotating sprocket 5 which successiv y feeds the pictureson the film into registration with the projection aperture of themachine. Beneath the projection aperture is a continuously drivensprocket 6 which.

feeds the film into the magazine 1 where it is wound upon a reel driventhrough a. slip gear to maintain a proper winding tension on the film.As constructed without the attachment of the device forming the subjectmatter of this applies tun, the upper wall of the has attached to it thedevice shown in m prior patent which serves to guide the film into themagazine. This device comprises briefly a metal frame '7 having upwardlyprojecting webs 8 and 9 separated a distance slightly greater than thewidth of the film and carrying at their upper ends guide rollers 10 oneof which is mounted in inclined slotted hearings to bear against thesurface of the film and hold the film in contact with the other rollerduring the movement of the film through the device.

At the out-er side of the magazine valve.

theweb 9 is formed in two pieces spaced slightly apart as indicated at11 so that the film may be thrust edgewise between the rollers and it isbecause of the ventilation permitted by this slit that the fire in someinstances passes into the magazine without being put out. To correctthis defect 1 provide the magazine valve with a-supplementary chute 0rinclosing casing for the film which extends from the same to thecontinuously rotating sprocket 6 which feeds the film into the magazine.This chute comprises a member 12 stamped out of sheet metal and providedwith side flanges 13 to engage the edges of the film to guide the same,and has the central portion 14 of its face ofi'set from the edgeportions to give it greater rigidity, and also to prevent contact of thesame with the portion of the film which bears the picture. At its lowerend the member 12 is curved to fitthe frame of the magazine valve, andis fixedly attached thereto by suitable rivets or otherwise. The othermember 15 of the chute'may also be stamped from sheet rfi'etal'aih'd issimilar in shape tothe member 12 exceptthat its side flanges are spacedslightly farther apart to lie outside of the side flanges of the member12 so that the edges of the flanges 13' engage the inner face of themember 15 to completely inclose thefilm and hold the members spacedapart sufficiently to permit free passage. Of'the filIiL- At itslowerendthe member 15 is hinged to the frame of the magazine valve on asuitable pivot rod 16 and its flange on the open side of the valve iswidened'as shown at 17 so as to closely cover the slit in' the side ofthe valve when the, member is in its operative position inclosing thefilm. A suitable spring 18 is coiled around-the pivot rod 16 to hold themember'15 normally in its operative position'and a latch 19 is providedfor engaging a pin projecting from the'member 15 to hold it in its openposition to uncover the slit '11 and permit easy threading of themachine.

In the most modern form of moving picture machines the inner rear faceof the machine is inclosed by a door 20. This door is preferably madeout of sheet metal andiis hinged on its edge 21 to'the fixed portion ofthe machine casing. The rear face of the door is curved to conform tothe outline of the machine-and is providedat substantially its middleportion witha fiat surface 2 having springs which engage the filmadjacent the projection aperture to guide the same in its movement pastthe aperture. Unless this door is closed the machine cannot be operatedas the film is not otherwise held in proper position for projection. Toprevent the machine being operated unless the member 15' is adjusted toinclose the film I position the latch so that when the member 15 is heldopen it lies in the path of movement of the door, 20 and hence the samecannot be closed and the machine operated, 1 may if desired provide thedoor with. a trip to release the latch as it is closed, but it issulficient for the purpose to prevent the door being closed until thefire shield 15 is properly adjusted.

The operation of the device will be clear from the above description.The fire shield not only incloses the film between the present magazinevalve and the feed sprocket, but also covers the slit at the side of thevalve when the shield is closed, lhe two members of the shield lieclosely together and completely inclose the film and serve in eliect toextinguish the flame by the chilling efiect of the metal and also bycutting oil the air from the burning film whereby it is choked with itsown fumes.

Another important function of my device is its operation in connectionwiththe winding mechanism for the film. In case the winding mechanismbecomes inoperative 'nnaeai through failure of its driving connectionsor from other cause, the continued movement of the feed sprockets causesthe film to pile-up between the sprocket and'th'eltop of themagazinethereby damaging the film and increasing its liability toignition. My improved'fire shield closely embraces the ."film.throughout its entire path from'the sprocket to the magazine and thestillness of'the film as it is pushed forward by this sprocket issuflicient to cause the film to be thrust into the magazine where itwill be protected againstinjury or' ignition even if it is not woundupon the roll.

My present invention may be used to advantage in combination with thesto mechanism shown in my co-p'ending app ication Noi 749,238, filedFeby. 18, 1913, by connecting the operating rod of the sto pawl to themember 15 to stop the mac ine when the member 15 is opened as, forinstance, by the failure of the film to be thrust into the magazineshould the winding device fail to work.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is L In a moving picture machine, the corn bination offilm feeding and guiding means, a magazine for receivingsaidfilmtherefrom, and a casing closely and completely inclosing saidfilm adjacent said magazine said casing comprising a fixed member forengaging one face of said film, ahinged member for engaging the oppositeface thereof, side flanges on one of said members overlying the edges ofthe other member, a spring for holding said members together and a latchfor holdin said hinged member in open position to permit said film to ethreaded into said casing,

2. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a magazine forreceiving the film, a feed sprocket for feeding said film to saidmagazine, an open-sided guide in the wall of said magazine for directingsaid film thereinto, and a casing for inclosing said film between saidsprocket and said guide and provided with a portion adapted to close theopen side of said guide.

3. In a moving picture machine, the combination of film feeding andguiding mechanism and a casin for inclosing said film throughoutaportion of its path of movefilm, a feed sprocket for feeding sai filmto said magazine, and a casing completely 1,1 iaaai and closelyinclosing said film throughout its entire movement from said sprocket tosaid magazine, and extending into sulficiently close proximity to saidsprocket to receive the film fed thereby and to cause the same to bethrust by its own stifliness into the magazine by the feeding movementof the sprocket 5. In a moving picture machine, the combination of amagazine for receiving the film, a feed sprocket for feeding said filmto said magazine, film guiding members embracing a portion of saidsprocket and extending from said feed sprocket to said magazine andclosely engaging the opposite faces of said film, whereby said film willbe thrust into said magazine by said feed sprocket.

6. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a film feedingmechanism, amagazine for receiving the film from said mechanism, acasing inclosing said film feeding mechanism, said casing having a door,a film guiding member for guiding the film in its passage from saidfeeding mechanism to said magazine, said guiding member being mountedfor movement into and out of operative position in the path of movementof said door, whereby said door cannot be closed until said member ismoved to its operative position.

7. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a magazine forreceiving the film, a feed sprocket for feeding said film to saidmagazine, and film guiding members extending from said sprocket to saidmagazine, one of said members engaging a portion of the sprocket in suchmanner as to hold the edges of the film in engagement with the sprocketteeth, said guiding members closely engaging the opposite faces of themargins of the film whereby said film will be thrust into said magazineby the feeding movement of said sprocket.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 11th day of March, A. D. 1913.

NICHOLAS POVVER Witnesses:

A, W. GLLBART, G. L. THOMAS.

